WAYNE, Neb. -- A big defensive stand in the final seconds helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team hold on for a thrilling 40-36 win over Wayne State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Wayne, Neb.

MSUM improved to 1-2 overall and in the NSIC with the win while the Wildcats fell to 1-2 overall and in the league.

The wild game featured several key plays made by MSUM: a kick return for a touchdown by junior Zayne Medhaug which pushed the lead to 38-23 in the fourth quarter; a two-point conversion return by sophomore corner Sheldon Jones which pushed MSUM's lead from two to four in the fourth quarter; two blocked field goals by the Dragon special teams; and a key two-point conversion pass from junior quarterback Jake Hodge to sophomore receiver Cory Ambrose which ended up proving to be huge.

"It was a great overall team win," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "At the end of the day, it is not about the stats, it is about finding a way to get a win. Our guys dug deep and battled and found a way to win and that's tough to do in this conference."

Medhaug rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while Hodge rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown. Junior tackle Troy Peterson also picked up his first career touchdown when he picked up a fumble on a running play and ran it 18 yards for a touchdown.

Hodge was 16-of-28 passing for 330 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions.  Junior wide receiver Adam Jiskra had the ninth 100-yard game of his career with six catches for 167 yards. Freshman receiver Hunter Braaten had two catches for 92 yards and a touchdown while sophomore receiver Cory Ambrose had five catches for 56 yards and a score.

On defense, sophomore linebacker Aaron Bohl had 12 tackles, including non solos, while junior cornerback Chris Binford and redshirt freshman safety Abe Roehrich each had 10. Roehrich also blocked a field goal, as did freshman defensive lineman Jake Busse.  Jones and sophomore safety Jesse Beilke had interceptions.]

Sophomore Michael Schwichtenberg had a solid day punting, averaging 41.4 yards per attempt with a long of 53.

Both teams produced big numbers offensively. The Dragons finished with 560 total yards of offense, including 230 on the ground and 330 through the air.  The Wildcats had 694 yards of offense, including 251 on the ground and 443 through the air.  MSUM did force two turnovers and also blocked two field goals which all proved critical

The game came down to the final series of the game after MSUM punted with less than a minute left. Wayne State had no timeouts remaining and took over possession at its own 35-yard line with 51 seconds left.

The Wildcats completed a pair of long passes to Cole McDaniel to move into Dragon territory, setting up a first-and-goal at the MSUM 9-yard line. However, the Dragon defense delivered, as Jones broke up two passes and Beilke one on the game's final play to secure the win.

"The defense made plays when it needed to make them," Laqua said. "That stop in the last series is something that group can build on. The balance of the game was on the defense's shoulders and they were able to find a way to get it done."

Earlier in the quarter, Wayne State had cut the gap to 30-23 with 6:21 left. On the ensuing kickoff, Medhaug broke free for a 98-yard touchdown return. Hodge hit Ambrose with the two-point conversion, and MSUM's lead grew to 38-23.

Wayne State cut the lead to 38-30, and later in the quarter, cut the lead to 38-36 after a 65-yard touchdown pass. On the two-point conversion, Jones intercepted Osborn and ran the ball back the length of the field to give MSUM two points, which proved to be a huge four-point swing.

"Those two plays were pivotal plays in the game," Laqua said of the kick return and two-point return.

Wayne State led early,7-0 but MSUM came back with a 25-yard touchdown run from Hodge to cut the lead to 7-6. The extra point was missed, leaving MSUM down by one.

Later in the quarter, the Dragons were set to punt, but Wayne State was called for roughing the kicker. Moments later,  Hodge hit Jiskra for a 38-yard gain to bring the Dragons into Wildcat territory. Later on the drive, Hodge was running and fumbled; Peterson, who was a tight end at Ulen-Hitterdal High School, alertly picked up the ball and ran it in from 18 yards out.  The extra point was blocked and run back for two points by Wayne State to leave the score at 12-9 with 2:49 left in the first half.

MSUM added to the lead in the second quarter when Medhaug scored from nine yards out to give the Dragons an 18-9 lead.  After the MSUM defense forced a three-and-out, the Dragons moved quickly into Wildcat territory, thanks to a 36-yard pass from Hodge to Jiskra on a third down.  Moments later, Hodge hit Braaten -- who scored his first career touchdown -- for a 29-yard score.

"Hats off to Jake Hodge on a gusty performance," Laqua said. "He was battling the flu, and didn't come out for warmups…and he played every snap. It was a gutsy performance by him."

The Wildcats cut the lead to 24-16, but MSUM came back with a touchdown drive in the final minutes off the half, capped off by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Hodge to Ambrose. The two-point conversion failed, giving MSUM a 30-16 lead.

Wayne State drove into scoring territory in the final seconds of the half and set up for a 37-yard field goal, but Roehrich blocked the attempt, leaving MSUM with a 14-point lead at halftime.

On the first drive of the second half, the Wildcats drove deep into Dragon territory but stalled, setting up another field goal attempt. This time, Busse delivered with the block to help MSUM's lead stay at 30-16.

The Dragon defense came up big again as Jones picked off Osborn at the goal line to snuff out a Wildcat scoring threat. MSUM had a chance to take a three touchdown lead in the fourth quarter but was stopped on a fourth and goal to keep the game at 30-16 before Wayne State rallied late.

Junior defensive lineman Steve Schutz had five tackles, including two for loss, for MSUM. Another key for MSUM was the Dragons did not commit a turnover.

MSUM plays host to Sioux Falls on Sept. 27 for its 2014 Homecoming game.

"It's important for us to get focused against a high-quality opponent," Laqua said. "Next week is a pivotal game in our season. We need to put together four good quarters of football together."

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today marked the first Dragons win on the road over a team that now makes up the eight team NSIC South, since winning 42-18 at Wayne State on Sept. 22, 2007.